The University of Houston must love what it's seeing from Stesha Brazil, one of the Cougars' prized recruits from this spring. Brazil signed with the Cougars earlier this school year, but the comfort of having a scholarship already in place hasn't tempered Brazil's drive.

The four-year starting catcher led the Yellowjackets to a pair of crucial Western Athletic Conference softball victories, 2-0 over Central Catholic and 3-1 over nemesis Patterson. Patterson handed Hilmar four of its five losses a year ago, including a playoff loss.

Brazil, aside from her flawless defense, played a crucial role with her bat. Her RBI double produced the first run and then she scored the second moments later vs. Central. She then went 2-for-3 -- with a double and a triple -- driving in one run and scoring the other two to beat Patterson.

Brazil is batting .543 with 12 RBIs, compiling four doubles and five triples, as well as a homer.